Harvey police investigate teen's death as accidental shooting

Police in south suburban Harvey believe the death of a 14-year-old boy late Saturday was the result of an accidental shooting, authorities said.

The teen was identified as Mario Butler, of the 1600 block of Downs Drive in Calumet City, and he was declared dead at 10:55 p.m. Saturday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, correcting information that he died early today.

Following an autopsy today, the medical examiner's office determined Mario died from a gunshot wound to the arm in a homicide. A homicide is any killing of one human being by another, and a ruling of homicide does not determine whether any criminal act was commited in a death.

Police were called to the area of 149th and Morgan streets at 9:19 p.m. Saturday to respond to a shooting, said Sandra Alvarado, a spokeswoman for Harvey.

Alvarado is being cautious in releasing details on what happened because the incident involved a juvenile, but initial investigation indicates the shooting happened nearby and was accidental, Alvarado said. Police are working with the Cook County state's attorney's office in the investigation, she said.

No one else was injured in the incident, she said.

Alvarado was not available for comment following the ruling by the medical examiner's office.